From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
   *** **   
      
   "I admire your home, Maximus," Aurelius commented.   
      
   The two men sat at a table in the kitchen. After making sure his    
   guests were comfortable with their accommodations, he had been eager    
   to be alone with Lucilla for the night. To his dismay, Caesar had    
   asked to speak with him. Maximus had been unable to inform Lucilla of    
   the change in plans. He tried not to think about how she was    
   occupying her time while he was waiting for Caesar to get to the    
   issue.   
      
   `She must be worried about me,' he thought.   
      
   "Thank you for speaking with me tonight," Aurelius said. "And for    
   welcoming my family into your home."   
      
   "It is my pleasure, Caesar," Maximus assured. "After all, you've    
   welcomed me into your home many times."   
      
   Aurelius chuckled to himself. "You are my eyes and body on the    
   battlefield. I think we are even."   
      
   Maximus nodded and asked, "Why did you want to speak with me Caesar?"    
   He wanted to speed this along. He had a beautiful young woman waiting    
   for him, after all.   
      
   "I wanted to speak to you," Aurelius started, "about my successor.'   
      
   "Have you finally chosen him?"   
      
   "Yes, I have. He's brave, strong, has firm beliefs of Rome. He    
   doesn't much care for politics but I believe he is the best choice    
   for the future of Rome." Aurelius nodded as he spoke. "I choose you,    
   Maximus. I want you to succeed me."   
      
   The general's mind zoned to solely what Caesar had said.   
      
   "What? Me?" He pointed to himself. Aurelius nodded. "Caesar, I can't    
   possibly rule Rome."   
      
   "You can, Maximus. You are the only choice," Aurelius insisted. "The    
   Senate agrees with me. You must rule Rome."   
      
   "Caesar," but he was at a loss for words. Rule Rome? He couldn't! He    
   didn't have to mind for that type of thing. He was merely a soldier,    
   a farmer's son. Controlling a nation of people wasn't in his    
   agenda. "You must choose another man."   
      
   "There is no other choice," Aurelius persisted. "You can rule Rome."   
      
   "But Caesar, I don't have the mind for politics. I wouldn't know the    
   first thing to do."   
      
   Aurelius smiled. "That's why you are perfect. They are stuffy men,    
   Maximus. The Senate needs someone like you to shake things up. Rome    
   needs you, Maximus."   
      
   But Maximus was still in disbelief. "Caesar…" His words fell short.   
      
   Aurelius clapped the man on his shoulder and stood from his seat.   
      
   "Think about it tonight and give me an answer in the morning," he    
   advised. "That's an order."   
      
   Maximus didn't get a chance to protest any further.   
      
   *** **   
      
   Maximus appeared stunned when he entered his room shortly after.    
   Lucilla shot up from the chair she had been waiting in.   
      
   "Where have you been? I've been worried sick. You said you'd only be    
   five minutes," she ranted off. She noticed his distant look. She    
   touched her palm to his cheek. "Maximus, what's wrong?"   
      
   Her touch jolted him from his thoughts. He pulled her hand to his    
   lips and kissed it to assure her. "I'm sorry I was so long. You're    
   father asked to speak with me. He… he asked something of me and I'm    
   not sure what to do."   
      
   She led him over to the bed. "What did he ask?"   
      
   He looked up at her with wide eyes as he collapsed onto the bed. "He    
   asked me to succeed him."   
      
   "You? He was talking about you?" she said loudly.   
      
   "What?" His face mirrored that of confusion.   
      
   Lucilla sat next to him. "After you left, I was… somewhat depressed.    
   Father noticed it but I was reluctant to tell him why. Anyway, he    
   started talking about the future and how he needed to choose a    
   successor and that he had someone in mind. He said he couldn't tell    
   me who it was but we would both know in due time. I never realized he    
   was talking about you."   
      
   Maximus was shaking his head. So many crazy things were happening in    
   such a small span of time.   
      
   "I don't know what to do, Lucilla," he confessed to her. He lay back    
   on the bed. His hands ran down his face in disgust. He looked over at    
   her. "What do I do?"   
      
   She smiled sadly. She ran a hand through his hair to comfort him.   
      
   "As much as I want to, I can't decide for you, Maximus," she told    
   him. "I won't deny that I would be more than ecstatic if you chose to    
   rule Rome. I won't deny that is the option I want you to choose. But    
   I can't force you to do something you don't want to. I can't ask you    
   to put yourself in a situation in which you will be unhappy."   
      
   "I don't need to answer," he interrupted. "I just need some guidance."   
      
   She lay down beside him and propped herself up on her elbow. "All    
   right, then. Where do you think you will be happiest, here or Rome?"   
      
   "Wherever you are," he answered without hesitation.   
      
   "And what if I return to Rome come spring and never return to    
   Alexandria?"   
      
   "Then I shall go to Rome as well."   
      
   "And do you want to change Rome for the better?"   
      
   He nodded.   
      
   "Then isn't that your answer?"   
      
   He looked up at her smile and smiled gratefully at her.   
      
   *** **   
      
   The months passed too quickly for Maximus. After asked Aurelius for    
   an additional day to think his dilemma over, he weighed the pros and    
   cons and accepted the offer for the throne. Words couldn't have    
   described how relieved Lucilla had been. She'd made her appreciation    
   known that night.   
      
   Maximus showed Lucilla the Egypt he knew. They shared many midnight    
   walks on the beach. When Maximus worked in the fields, Lucilla often    
   watched him from his bedroom window. He often showed off for her, her    
   laughing all the while. Melania and Aurelius no longer questioned    
   whether the relationship existed or not. The couple wouldn't answer    
   anyway.   
      
   Octavia grew to loathe Lucilla. The younger woman received all the    
   general's attention and Octavia wasn't used to that. It was rare when    
   Maximus was home longer than two or three weeks and during that time,    
   Octavia was used to all of his attentions. Or at least trying to get    
   his attention.   
      
   She'd never heard Maximus mention the Roman before. He never talked    
   about women when he was at home. During the last few years, he had    
   become more distant towards Octavia. And when he had arrived home    
   this time, he couldn't get rid of her fast enough.   
      
   Yes, Lucilla certainly was evil. And competition.    
      
   *** **   
      
   24 Januarius 175   
      
   "Maximus, I haven't seen you in a few days," Octavia told him when    
   she joined him in his private outdoor seating area. "How have you    
   been?"   
      
   "I've been well; I've been busy lately. I'm sorry I haven't had time    
   to speak with you," he said distractedly. He was facing her but his    
   attention was on the paper in front of him. Every now and then, he    
   would set his graphite down and run his fingers along the paper.   
      
   "Do you have time for me now?"   
      
   He focused his eyes on the paper. "I suppose I have a few minutes to    
   spare. What did you want to talk about?"   
      
   Octavia took that as an invitation to sit beside him.   
      
   "I just wanted to see how you're doing. We've hardly had any time to    
   talk since you've been home."   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)